Harrow-tooth clamp



July '21, 1925.

. 1.546.495 F. K. LATHROP' HARROW TOOTH CLAMP Filed Aug 21 1924wrruzssss I AT-r mv Patented July 21, 1 925.

FRANK K. LATHROP, or ILONGVIEW, TEXAS, Assreivon T PANY, 0F. LONGVIEW,TEXAS.

G. A. KELLY PLOW COM HARROW-TOOTH CLAMP,

Application filed August 21, 1924. Serial No. 733,365.

1 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK K. LATHROP,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Longview, in the county ofGregg and State have invented a new and useful of Texas, Harrow-ToothClamp, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for "detachably securing harrow teeth tothe U- shaped cross bars of a harrow frame.

In toothedharrows, as at present constructed, the teeth have beenfastened to the U-shaped cross bars by means of a bolt passing throughthe clamp and the bar. These bolts become strained, which causes theclamp to loosen its grip on the teeth, resulting in the teeth gettingout of adj ustment and frequently falling out, with consequent loss.

An object of the invention is to provide an individual clamp for eachtooth of'a harrow capable of holding the tooth in any desired elevationrelative to the frame.

Other objects are to provide an improved clamp which grips the tooth.with great firmness and positively prevents movement of the toothupwardly iwhile permitting withdrawal of the tooth for re-shaping itspoint.

Additional objects are to provide a device of this character which iseasily manufactured, readily applied, and of extreme simplicity inconstruction.

A specific object of the invention is to provide a holder for harrowteeth having a gripping tongue which is sprung out from the clamp by thedriving of the tooth through the clamp.

The device of the present invention employs no bolts, screws or otherfastening elements, and thus it is not necessary to punch holes in theframe bars of the harrow.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of thefollowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing forming part of this specification, with the understanding,however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformitywith the showing in the drawing, but may be changed and modified so longas such changes and modifications mark no material departure from thesalient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a portion of a crossbar with the improved clamp in place and holding a tooth thereto.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section through the bar and clamp showing thetooth in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view.

The reference numeral 5 denotes thetooth of theharrow', and 6 isthe'Ushaped cross bar. A clamp, which "forms the subject of the presentinvention, is fitted over the cross bar 6 and itself is U-shaped. Thisclamp or clip is made of one piece of steel of considerable resiliencyand includes the arms 7 and 8, the arm 7 resting upon the upper side ofthe bar 6 and the arm ,8 fitted against the lower side of said foration9 is provided ceiving the square shank of the harrow tooth 5. Thisperforation is so disposed that an ge or corner of the tooth ispresented against the edges of the U-shaped bar 6. In other words, noneof the, flat longitudigal faces of the toothis held against the Thelower arm 8 of the spring clamp or clip'has a before the clamp isapplied, lying in the plane of the arm 8 ready tobe wholly re ceivedwithin said arm. The arm 8 is cut away as indicated at 11 the sides ofsaid cutaway portion being at. right angles to each otherv to receiveand fit against two longitudinal faces of the tooth5. The end of thetongue 10 is cut awa as indicated at 11 so that the'two cutaway portions11 and 11 together provide asquare perforation in vertical alinementwith the perforation 9 when the clamp is in position. The perforation;formed of the comp lemental cutaway sections 11 and 11 is of slightlysmaller dimensions than the perforation 9 and is slightly smaller thanthe cross sectional area of the tooth 5. The result is that while thetooth may be driven through the perforation 9 without encountering morethan frictional resistance, after its point has passed through theperforation 11, 11

bar. A square per- 1n the arm 7 for retongue 10 cut therein, said tonguenew tooth when desired,

' tooth upwardly;

I by the walls the tooth starts to the spring tongue downwardly figuresand the square shank of enter said perforation, 10 is forced outwardlyvand from the arm 8 as indicated in the of the drawing. I

The tendency of the spring tongue 10 is to return to its originalpositionbecause of the high resiliency of the steel clamp. The notch-11presses against the shank of the tooth and grips the same very firmly.Any tendency on the part of the tooth to rise is positively preventedbecause the spring tongue 10 clampsthe teeth the more firnly the greaterthe force tending toumove the The tongue 10 can never return to itsoriginal position as long as the tooth is in the clamp, because oftherelati-ve size of the perforation 11, 11 and of the tooth itself. Onthe other hand, it is relatively easy to remove the tooth for reshapingthe p'oint, or for replacement by a such removal being elfectedby merelydriving a wedge between the arm 8 and tonguelo. This will spring thetongue 10, ca'u'smg itto become di'sen- .gaged from the tooth,whereupon'the l'attermay be knocked out of the clamp.

The principal features of the present clamp are believed to be itsextreme simplicity, its stren'gtln-and the ease with which it is appliedto and taken off the harrow bar.

What is claimed is 1 1. A harrow tooth fastening including a clamp ofresilient netal, said clamp having a pair of alined apertures of a sizeto pass the harrow tooth, and atongue punched out fromthe clamp andengaging with two sides of the tooth to hold the tooth againstlongitudinal movement. 7 v

52.- A harrovyztooth fastening including a clamp of resilient metaladapted to embrace the harrow bar, said clamp having a pair 0spacedvertically a-lined apertures of a size to pass the harrow tooth,and anintegral tongue provided. on the clamp and depending below thebottom thereof, whereby the tooth is engaged at spaced points verticallythereof, in part by said tongue and in part of the aperture in saidbottom.

A harrow tooth fastening including a clamp of resilient metal adapted toembrace the harrow bar, said. clamp havinga pairof spaced verticallyalined apertures of a size to pass the harrow tooth, and a spring tongueprovided on said clamp and engaging the tooth below the lower apertureof said clamp, whereby the tooth is engaged at spaced points verticallythereof.

4. A harrow tooth fastening including a clamp of resilient metal, saidclamp having a pair ofaline'd apertures for receiving said tooth, and atongue punched out from the V said clamp being adapted to embrace theharro'w bar on three sides and hold the harrow tooth with one edgeabutted against the harrow bar, the holding part of the clamp 1nclud nga spring tongue provided on the clamp and bent outwardlyvfrom the sameby the driving of the tooththrough the clamp.

6,. A harrow tooth fastening comprising a U-shaped clamp of resilientmetal, apertures in the arms of said clamp adapted to receive the harrowtooth, a spring tongue provided on the, lower sideof said clamp andbeing engaged by the tooth when driven into position, said tooth bendingthe tongue downwardly from the clamp whereby the tongue engages withsame against longitudinal movement.

7 A harrow tooth fastening including a clamp of resilient metal, saidclamp being adapted toembrace the harrow bar on three sldes, vert callyalined apertures PI'OVlClQCl in the arms of said clamp,a tongue providedon the lower arm of the clamp and normally heldby its resiliency incoincidence with the plane of said arm, the lower aperture being formedin part by by the free end of-said tongue and being smaller than thecross sectionof the tooth whereby the tooth when entering the loweraperture forces the said spring tongue downwardly and tooth in position.i .v i

In testimony thatI claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixedmy signature.

' ream: 1;. jLirrna'or.

the lower armand in part outwardly so that it clamps the the tooth tohold the.

